Jason stepped out of the car and adjusted his cuffs.
Flashes popped immediately. A small crowd of reporters had gathered just outside the dealership gates, cameras raised and mics outstretched. They swarmed like vultures the second he appeared, hurling questions about the broken engagement and rumors of corporate fallout. Security was already pushing them back, forming a protective wall as Jason walked briskly through the entrance.
He gave a small nod to the security guard and entered through the private elevator.
News spreads fast.
Corrected:
"Yun Heir Breaks Engagement with Han Group's Alice Han!" Was already in the top 20 trending topic dispite it only being announced a couple hours ago.
He stepped into his personal office—an open-spaced sanctuary of glass, steel, and sharp edges—and sank into his leather chair with a quiet sigh. The scent of expensive wood polish still lingered in the air. Everything about the space screamed prestige, yet he barely noticed anymore.
He powered on his computer.
The corner of the screen pinged.
Unread Emails: 1,084.
"…Seriously?"
He opened the first one. Sender: Daisy.
Subject: Summary of All Critical Emails (As of 7:43 AM)
Of course. Even from home, she was already two steps ahead.
Director Han had called more than twenty times. He wanted a meeting to "discuss recent events"—which probably meant Jason's public declaration at the Yun family dinner and the jade he used to back it up.
Someone from the Son family had also called. They were requesting a face-to-face meeting this afternoon.
Then came the bar footage—security clips from the disaster yesterday. Daisy included a brief breakdown of what she noticed:
Two bartenders skimming cash.
Security letting in underage customers.
Manager caught using narcotics in the office.
Zero crowd control.
She wrapped it up with a line:
"Suggest immediate restructuring or termination. This bar's a lawsuit waiting to happen."
The rest of the inbox? A flood of emails from news outlets, marriage proposals, and ambitious families trying to seize their shot now that the engagement had crumbled.
Jason massaged his temple.
He reviewed the bar footage for himself. His eyes narrowed. Every frame just confirmed Daisy's points—if not worse.
He pulled up a blank email and typed:
To: Daisy
Terminate all bar employees effective immediately.
Write off all inventory and stock as a full loss.
Begin processing the paperwork to permanently shut it down.
He hovered his finger over the "Send" key for a moment, then tapped.
Some losses were better cut early. That place wasn't worth salvaging.
Next, he pulled up a second message:
To: Daisy
Please pull everything you can find on:
– Hendricks Sang
– Natalie Lang
Within five minutes, she replied.
HENDRICKS SANG, 27. Former lead interior designer at NovaForm Studios—a trendy design firm known for its eclectic, viral spaces. Fired a year ago after being accused of sexual assault. Following the scandal, he was blacklisted from the industry. No one's heard from him since.
NATALIE LANG, 23. Receptionist at a mid-tier skincare company. No scandals, no drama. But a hidden gem. Daisy noted that she had an oddly strong cult following on a local social app, mostly from female college students in the area.
Jason read and reread the names.
In the original novel, these two were pivotal.
Hendricks was the visionary. After the protagonist acquired Jason's old shop in a bet, it was Hendricks who transformed it—splitting it into a café and a mini beauty salon. But more than just layout, the place was a sensory experience. Every Instagrammer, vlogger, and influencer couldn't get enough of it.
Natalie ran the beauty section and became the face of the brand. Her relatable charm turned passing students into loyal customers. Within months, the place exploded—eventually launching the franchise C&B. Stores sprouted all over the city. Online sales of their beauty products and quirky café merchandise became a goldmine.
But Hendricks' case… the SA charge. Jason remembered the subplot.
Jason leaned back in his chair.
The only problem he had now was that location of Hendricks was never revealed in the novel as he's is homeless and travels the city.
Jason stared at his phone. Then remembered.
The app.
He powered it on.
The interface flickered to life. Bright lines, strange curves, numbers ticking upward. He tapped the "Random Info" section just out of habit.
[An antique painting will appear at the 3:25 PM auction at Lang's Market.]
[Tap to reveal more details.]
He scrolled past it and opened the "Search Fate" tab.
He scrolled past it and opened the "Specific information " tab.
He typed in:
"Current location of Hendricks Sang, former interior designer. Homeless. Age 27."
Notice: This information could directly lead to the theft of a major opportunity from the protagonist. Cost: 7,000 points.
Jason stared at the screen.
The cost was absurd—but the reward, if handled right, would be game-changing.
He clicked "Accept."
The screen blinked.
Then revealed:
"Under a bridge, 45 minutes from your current location. Living in a red tent near the third support beam."
Jason exhaled.
One step closer.
He typed again:
"How to clear Hendricks Sang of all allegations and restore his name."
Cost: 3,500 Points
He accepted.
Three options popped up:
Kidnap Manager Park, threaten him using the Yun name, and record a confession. (10% success rate)
Uncover the murder of Vanessa Clark, tie the cover-up to Manager Park, and use it as leverage to force a confession.
Pay Hendricks' ex-girlfriend $2 million and offer her a reduced plea deal in exchange for a full confession implicating herself and Park.
Jason tapped his fingers on the table.
The second option. The Vanessa Clark case—it had always bothered him in the novel. Just a single throwaway line. Never resolved.
He suddenly paused.
The Shadow Organization.
An organization that runs all throughout the country.
For the right price, they could've tracked Hendricks in two days max. And yet, here he was, 7,000 points poorer.
He stood up, walked out his office,pressing the elevator button and headed down for the first floor.
As the doors slid open, a commotion near the showroom caught his attention.
A young man in tattered jeans and a scuffed hoodie stood by one of the display cars, running his fingers along the sleek curves. A female employee was blocking him, arms crossed.
"I'm going to have to ask you not to touch the vehicles, sir," she said curtly. "We don't allow loitering."
"I'm here to buy a car."
She laughed.
Jason walked over.
"What's the problem here?" he asked, eyes flicking between the two.
The girl straightened. "Just someone who clearly can't afford anything here—"
Jason raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence.
He looked at the man again. Shabby hoodie, worn shoes, nothing about him screamed money. But Jason's eyes narrowed slightly.
This scene…
Then it clicked.
Jack.
A social media influencer disguised as an ordinary customer, known for secretly recording interactions and exposing staff who judged based on appearances. It was briefly mentioned upon Jason introduction that his company had taken a massive hit from the influencer jack the staff had mocked him, and within twenty-four hours, a ten-minute video titled "Luxury Scum: How the Rich Treat the Rest" had gone viral.
"Which car are you looking at?" Jason asked.
The man raised a brow, mildly impressed that someone had addressed him properly. "The Kuro Limited. Black. Fully package."
Jason gave a slight nod. "Good taste"
Then he turned to the employee. "You're fired."
Her face went pale. "What—?
"I don't hire people who judge based on appearances," Jason said coldly. "You saw someone in cheap clothes and dismissed them.
She stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
Jason didn't wait for her to gather a response.
He waved over another salesperson—a younger guy from across the showroom. "You. What's your name?"
"Kevin, sir."
"You're handling this young man today. Give him the full package. Make sure he leaves happy."
"Of course. Right this way, sir."
"Car," he said as his driver approached. "We're heading to the bank."
"Yes, sir."
As the car pulled away, Jason leaned his head against the window. He tapped a finger idly against the glass, watching the dealership fade in the distance.
In the novel, that influencer ended up crossing paths with the protagonist—exposing the dealership's shady staff and racking up millions of views. They became friends not long after.